Bulawayo (New Ziana)-Bulawayo province has witnessed a 38 percent decline in crime from January to October this yea, a development attributed to effective collaboration with stakeholders, including the media.

Speaking at an interactive meeting with the media on Wednesday at Ross Camp Ross Camp in Bulawayo, national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi commended stakeholders for their assistance in fighting crime, but warned against complacency, adding cases which have gone down include unlawful entry into premises and theft.

“Let’s not relax, let’s be vigilant and we want that to happen in other parts of the country,” he said.

He however highlighted an increase in specific crimes, noting a 13 percent increase in murders, a 2 percent rise in the rape of juveniles, and a surge in gender-based violence (GBV).

“As police we are saying people should find peaceful means of resolving their differences. The media should assist us in that regard. People are killing each other for petty issues. Why are people moving around carrying knives? Why would you want to carry a knife into a bar? Do we have something to be sliced in a bar? Let us recognize the sanctity of human life,” he said.

Comm Nyathi also spoke about rising attacks on police officers while on duty, adding that law enforcement agents will respond in an appropriate manner.

“There is no need to attack police officers when they are on duty. We get disturbed when criminals shoot police officers to death. The law will certainly take its course. We will respond in an appropriate manner. We have a case in Bulawayo where a police officer was killed by armed robbers while on duty protecting lives of citizens and properties. Grievances should be chanelled through police leadership. If anyone has issues with the police they can approach the Commissioner General. We will not take lightly issues of people attacking or killing police officers,” he said, adding that drug smuggling and abuse remain a national security threat.

Comm Nyathi warned transporters and bus operators aiding drug smugglers that police will take action against such business people.

He commended local journalists and urged them to continue working with the police to improve law enforcement in the country.

“The police need the cooperation of the media. The police need the support of the media, because our messages can only reach the people through you guys. Whether we like it or not, the police can only be heard through the media. And that’s a fact which cannot be taken away. So, we really appreciate your work. We cherish your work,” he said.

He expressed concern over misinformation driven by untrained individuals masquerading as journalists.

“In this era of citizen journalism, there is confusion where somebody’s got a smartphone, wakes up today and says I am a journalist, yet we have trained journalists, a professional journalist who has got ethics to observe. There’s a difference between you guys and the citizen journalists because the one with a phone has not been trained, does not have ethics to observe. And sometimes they scandalize issues. They are not objective. Their stories are not balanced,” he said.

Comm Nyathi urged the police and media not to limit interactions to election seasons alone but to have programs at provincial level with local commanders.

“Let us have a program of engagement with provincial commanders and the national office. We can only police Zimbabweans through your cooperation. Peace and safety in the country can only be realized through your assistance.

“We should strengthen our cooperation. Media and law enforcement cannot afford to ignore each other in the national interest,” he said.

New Ziana